Stroller



Nov. 13, 1962 E. F. HAMILTON 3,063,729

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Filed Jan. 13, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Y 55H4 E HHM/L ra N,

A f Tae/vm.

Nov. 13, 1962 E. F. HAMlLToN 3,063,729

sTRoLLER Filed Jan. l5, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 6&4; 63 33 I N VEN TOR.fwn F: HHM/A To/v HrroR/VEYS.

Nov. 13, 1962 E; F. HAMILTON 3,063,729

STROLLER Filed Jan. 13, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INV EN TUR. [f7/a EMwv/A-ro/Y,

Nov. 13, 1962 E. F. HAMILTQN 3,063,729

STROLLER Filed Jan. l5, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l Q- 4 INVENToR.

United States Patent Giice 3,063,729 Patented Nov. 13, 1962 3,063,729STROLLER Earl F. Hamilton, Columbus, Ind., assignor to Hamilton Cosco,Inc., Columbus, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Filed Jan. 13, 1960, Ser.No. 2,201 14 Claims. (Cl. 280-36) This invention relates to a babystroller, and more particularly to a stroller which can be packed andshipped in knocked-down condition, which can be readily assembled, andwhich, when assembled, can be folded into a collapsed position for easein carrying.

A stroller embodying my invention in its preferred form comprises awheel-supported base frame and a handle frame link-connected to the baseframe near the rea-r end thereof so that it can be swung forwardly froman erected position to overlie the front portion of the base frame. Thehandle frame carries pivotally mounted arms which, when the handle frameis in its generally vertical erected condition, extend forwardly andgenerally horizontally therefrom, but which can be swung upwardly intogenerally parallel relation with the handle frame. A seat, including aback, is supported from said arms. Movement of the handle frame into itserected position from its collapsed position is limited by engagement ofits lower end with an abutment on the base frame, and the lower end ofthe handle frame is held in engagement with such abutment by a lockoperated by swinging movement of the aforesaid arms.

The stroller herein illustrated includes a generally U-shaped basketframe which overlies the rear end of the base frame and which ispivotally connected to the base frame and the handle frame in such amanner that it lies generally parallel to the base frame when thestroller is collapsed but extends upwardly and rearwardly relative tothe base frame when the handle is moved into its erected position. Thebasket frame cooperates with the base frame in providing, behind theseat, a receptacle for packages and other articles.

Desirably, the seat is provided with a back which can be swung from agenerally vertical to a generally horizontal position under the controlof a suitable adjustable back-support. The stroller also includes alink-mounted footrest adjustable between a position generally coplanarwith the base frame, in which it is adapted to support the feet of asitting infant, and an upper position in which it lies forwardly andgenerally coplanar with the seat to support the lower legs of areclining infant.

Other features of the invention will become apparent from the followingmore detailed description and from the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a side elevation of the stroller in an erected condition;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. l but with portions of theframe structure broken away to illustrate details of construction;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the erected stroller with parts thereof brokenaway;

FIG. 4 is a detail View illustrating in rear elevation the lower portionof the handle frame and the parts associated therewith;

lFIG. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a vertical section on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FlG. 7 is a fragmental sectional view illustrating details ofconstruction;

lFIG. 8 is a fragmental generally vertical section illustrating thedetail of the footrest mounting;

FIG. 9 .is a fragmental side elevation, in partial section, showing therear end of the base frame and parts associated therewith;

FIG. 10 is a fragmental sectional view illustrating additional detailsof the footrest and its mounting; and

FIG. ll is an isometric view illustrating a canopy with which thestroller may be provided.

The stroller shown in the drawing comprises a base frame designated inits entirety by the reference numeral 25, a basket frame designated inits entirety by the reference numeral 26, and a handle frame designatedin its entirety by the reference numeral 27. These several frames areall conveniently formed of metal tubing bent as more fully describedhereinafter.

The base frame 25 is formed of a length of metal tubing bent into ageneral U-shape to provide a rear leg 30 and sides 31. The front end ofthe sides 31 are bent downwardly and constitute sockets 32 for thereception of the Shanks of casters embodying front wheels 33. Near therear end of the base frame, an axle 34 extends between, through, andoutwardly beyond the sides 31 t0 support rear wheels 35. A bumper member36 extends between and is secured to the sides 31 adjacent the frontends thereof, such member serving as a brace between the sides.

The basket frame 26 comprises a length of metal tubing bent into ageneral U-shape to provide a rear leg 46 and sides 41. Adjacent theirfront ends, the sides 41 are bent to extend downwardly, as indicated at42 to receive between them the sides 31 of the base frame to which theyare pivoted as through rivets 0r bolts 43. The rivets or bolts 43 arecoaxial and are conveniently located somewhat forwardly of thelongitudinal middle of the base frame 31.

The handle frame 27 is shown as comprising a length of metal tubing bentinto a general U-shape to provide an intermediate leg 45 and twoparallel sides 46. 'I'he frame 27 and the basket frame 26 are pivotallyinterconnected intermediate their respective lengths by a rod 47. Asshown, the handle frame has a width less than that of the basket frame26 and is received between the legs 41 of the latter, being located in acentral position by tubular spacers 4S interposed between the legs 46and the leg 41 on the pivot rod 47. The handle frame 2.7 is connected tothe base frame 25 through links 5t) which, with the lower portions ofthe legs 46 of the handle frame, constitute a toggle controlling4separation of the basket frame 26 and the base frame 25. Conveniently,each link '50 is one leg of an L-shape rod, the other leg 51 of whichextends inwardly through an opening inthe associated leg 46 of thehandle frame 27. The two legs 51 are coaxial and have their adjacentends rigidly interconnected by a sleeve 52. Pivotal connection of thelinks 56 to the base frame is effected by providing them with out-bentends received in openings in the inner faces of the sides 31 In theerected condition of the stroller, the intermediate leg `45 of thehandle frame is held, by a locking device hereinafter described, againstthe rear side of a stop rod 55 which extends horizontally between thetwo sides 31 of the base frame. In this condition, the handle frame isinclined somewhat rearwardly from the vertical, the links 50 extenddownwardly and rearwardly from their points of connection with thehandle frame to their points of connection with the base frame, and thebasket frame slopes upwardly and rearwardly, all as shown in FIGS. 1 and2 and in dotted lines in FIG. 9. By swinging the upper end of the handleframe 27 forwardly and downwardly the frames 26 and 27 are brought intothe collapsed condition shown in full lines in FIG. 9, the handle framelying approximately coplanar with the basket frame and parallel to thebase frame.

A handle, designated in its entirety by the reference numeral 57,comprises a length of tubing bent into a general U-shape to provide twoparallel legs 58 telescopically receivable in the sides 46 of the handleframe 27. Desirably, the handle is readily removable from the handleframe, and to hold it releasably in place therein, its legs 58 may beprovided with releasable detents rcceived inopenings 59 in the legs 46of the handle frame. By providing the latter legs with a plurality ofsets of openings 59, the handle 57canbealternatively positioned atVvarious heights.

Intermediate the height of the sides 46 of the handle frame 27 there aresecured thereto brackets 61, and to each of such brackets there ispivoted an arm 62 swingable upwardly from the horizontal positionillustrated in FIG. 1 to a position parallel to the associated side 46-of the handle frame. Each of such arms is desirably formed as a lengthof metal tubing, and the two arms are interconnected by aV yoke 63having parallel legs telescopically received within the arms. Desirably,the yoke 63 is removable from thev arms 62 and its legs are providedwith detents 64 releasably receivable in openings of the arms. Byproviding each of the arms with a plurality of openings 64, thefore-and-aft position of the yoke 63 may be varied between the full-lineand dottedline positions of FIG. 3.

The locking device, which has been referred to above as employed for thepurpose of holding the handle frame 27 in erect position, may beoperated by the arms 62. As shown, such locking device compri-ses alength of metal rod bent into a general U-shape to provide a lowerhorizontal leg 65 and two parallel legs 66 which respectively parallelthe sides 46 of the handle frame. The upper ends of the legs 66 of thelocking member are bent outwardly and operatively connected to eccentricpoints on the arms 62 so that, as the arms are swung about the axis oftheir pivotal connections to the brackets 61, the locking member 66 willbe raised and lowered. Adjacent the lower end of the handle frame 27,the sides 46 are provided with guides 67 which slidably receive the legs66 of the 4locking member. The arrangement is such that with theintermediate leg of the handle frame resting against the rear face ofthe stop rod S and with the arms 62 in their horizontal position, thelower end of the locking member will overlie the front face of the stoprod 55 to hold the handle frame in its erect position. Upon swinging thearms 62 upwardly, or from the full line to the dotted line positionshown in FIG. 2, the lock member 66 will be moved upwardly far enough toclear the stopV rod 55, thus permitting the handle frame 27 to be swungforwardly as above described to permit the stroller to be collapsed. Tomake more positive the locking of the handle frame in upright positionwhen the arms 62 are lowered, the intermediate leg 45 of the handleframe is formed to provide a forwardly opening groove (FIG. 2) whichreceives the stop rod 55 to a depth suticient to prevent upward ordownward movement of the handle frame.

The construction of each of the brackets 61 is illustrated in FIGS. 4 to6. As will be obvious from those figures, each bracket comprises outerand inner sheetmetal stampings 69 and 70 formed along their rear edgesto provide complementary grooves adapted to receive the associated side46 of the handle frame. Forwardly of such grooves, the bodies of thestampings lie parallel to each other and the outer stamping 69 has amarginal ange 72 engaging the opposed face of the inner stamping 70 todetermine the spacing of the stamping-bodies. Over the upper portion andfor a distance down the front of `the stamping l69, the flange 72 is cutaway to provide for the reception of the collapsed and iiattened rearend 62 of the associated arm 62 and to form a shoulder 73 limitingdownward swinging of such arm. The two stampings 69 and 70 are heldtogether by rivets 75, the upper one of which serves to Vprovide thepivotal connection between the bracket and the arm 62. In the rear ofthe side 46of the'handle frame, the two stampings which lform eachbracket 61 are provided respectively A. with an interiitting tongue andgroove (FIG. 4), and to locate the bracket in denite position along theside 46, the inner stamping 70 may be provided with a boss 74 receivedin an opening in the wall of the side 46.

The sides 66 of the lock member extend upwardly inside the respectivebrackets 61 and have their ends outbent to extend through arcuate slots76 in the inner bracket members 70 and Iinto openings in the flattenedends of the arms 62. To hold the sides 66 of the lock member inassociation with the arms 62, their out-bent ends may be swaged toprovide ears 77, and the eccentric openings in the arms 62 may beprovided with notches 78 through which such ears may pass. The notches78 are so oriented with respect to the ears that they are out of linetherewith in any position occupied by the arms 62 after the guides 67have been secured in position on the sides of the handle frame.

In assembling the handle frame 27, the brackets 61, arms 62, lock member65-66, and guides 67, are applied to each side 46 of the handle frame,the rivets 75 and the tlattened end 62 of the associated arm 62 arepositioned between the bodies of the bracket members, and the rivets areheaded over. The out-bent ends of the locking member 66 are theninserted through the slots 76 of the inner bracket member and throughthe eccentric openings in the attened arm-ends 62'. To enect suchinsertion, the locking member must be positioned with its lower endspaced well forwardly of the handle frame 27 in order to bring the ears77 on its outbent ends into alignment with the notches 78. After theears 77 have passed outwardly through the notches 78, the lower end ofthe locking member is swung against the handle frame and the guides 67are applied. The locking member is now held by the guides 67 generallyparallel to the handle frame with the ears 77 out of alignment with thenotches 78, and it is therefore impossible to disengage the out-bentends of the locking member from the arms 62 by springing the sides ofthe-locl ing member inwardly.

The stroller embodies a seat including a seat-board 80 and back-board 81conveniently formed of hardboard or like relatively rigid material andreceived in known manner in pockets of a cover 82 formed of fabric orsimilar flexible sheet material. The cover is formed with side portions83 full enough to permit the back to swing rearwardly substantially intoa horizontal position and having tabs 84 which are hemmed over toembrace the arms 62. The cover may also have a forwardly extending strap85 provided with a snap fastener S6 so that it may be looped over andsecured to the intermediate leg of the yoke 63. At its lower corners,the back-board 81 is provided with clips 87 providing, in effect, aslotted connection with the pivot rod 47. Sheet-metal hinge members 88secured to the rear corners of the seat-board 80 and slotted for thereception of the front legs of the clips 87 serve to interconnect theseat and back boards in a manner which permits them to move between thefull-line positions and the dotted-line positions shown in FIG. 7.

For the purpose of supporting the back in a generally upright positionappropriate for a sitting infant, I may employ ya back-support (FIGS. 4`and 5) in the form of a metal rod bent to provide a horizontalintermediate portion 90 and parallel sides 91. The horizontal portion 90extends across and in rear of the back intermediate the height thereof,while the sides 91 extend downwardly along the sides 46 of the handleframe and in front of the pivot rod 47. The lower ends of the sides 91are formed into eyes 9'2, which receive the link-legs 51 and which areelongated to permit a limited movement of the back supportlongitudinally of the handle frame. Above the eye 92, each leg 91 isbent to provide a forwardly projecting, generally V-shaped offset 93which, when the back support is in the lowermost position permitted bythe eyes 92, lies wholly below the pivot rod, 47 so that engagement ofthe pivot rod 47 by the support-sides 91 immediately above the oisets 93will limit rearward swinging of the back support -about the link-Shanks51 and thus hold the back in a generally vertical position. By raisingthe back support, as provided for by the elongated eyes 92, the offsets93 can be brought opposite the pivot rod 47, whereupon the back supportcan be swung rearwardly into the chain-line position of FIG. 5, thepivot rod entering the offsets. Desirably, the offsets are deep enoughto permit the back support to swing rearwardly and downwardly into Vaposition which permits the back to rest on the rear portion 40 of thebasket frame 26. By providing the upper legs of the offsets 93 withintermediately located downwardly opening bights 94 adapted to receivethe pivot rod 47, the back support can be placed in the dotted-lineposition of FIG. 5 and employed to support the back in an intermediateposition of rearward inclination. In the erected position of the handleframe, the back support is freely slidable under the inuence of gravity,and hence, unless lifted, will remain either in its generally verticalposition with the offsets 93 below the pivot rod 47 or in itsintermediate rearwardly inclined position with the pivot rod received inthe bights 94.

The stroller shown embodies la footrest 95 comprising side members 96,front and rear members 97 and 98, and a plurality of grid-forming wires99 extending between the front and rear members. Conveniently, the frontand rear members are formed .of iiat stock perforated for the receptionof the ends of the grid wires and then rolled into a tubularcross-section. Each side member 96 comprises a metal rod having its endsbent inwardly into parallel relation, pivotally received in the ends ofthe tubular front and rear members 97 and 98, and secured in `anyconvenient manner against withdrawal therefrom.

The footrest 95 is yadjustably supported from the base frame through themedium of front and rear U-shaped yokes 102 and 103. Such yokes haveintermediate portions rotatably connected to the footrest on spaced,transverse axes and generally parallel arms the lower ends of which arebent outwardly to be rotatably received in holes in the sides 31 of thebase frame 25. The rotatable connection of the intermediate portion ofeach yoke 102 or 103 to the footrest is conveniently effected byproviding each of the grid wires 99 with a pair of spaced offsets 104and 104 and by assembling the footrest so that the offsets on theseveral wires project alternately upwardly and downwardly to passalternately over and under each intermediate yoke portion and locate itlongitudinally of the footrest. As shown, the set of offsets 104 islocated near the rear of the footrest to receive the rear yoke 103 andthe other set 104 near the longitudinal middle to receive the frontyoke.

The yokes 102 and 103 provide a general parallel-link connection betweenthe footrest 95 and the base frame 25 enabling the footrest to be movedbetween the full-line and dotted-line positions shown in FIG. 1.Preferably, the sides of the rear yoke 103 are offset downwardly toprovide in each side of pair of portions 105 and 106 which extendgenerally perpendicularly to the plane containing the intermediateportion of the yoke and the outbent ends, 'Ihe portions 106, which lieadjacent the outbent ends of the yoke, join the intermediate portions ofthe yoke-sides through bends 107. The sides of the yoke 103 lare soformed, that the distance over the bends 107 is somewhat greater thanthe space between the sides 31 of the base frame. As will be apparentfrom FIG. l, when the footrest is moved from its lower to its upperposition, the bends 107 pass through the plane of the side members 31,which engage the bends 107 and force the sides of the yoke toward eachother. As the footrest nears its upper position, the sides of the yoke103 spring back toward their normal positions and, by their engagementwith the upper inner surface portions of the frame-sides 31 (see FIG.8), resiliently oppose rearward swinging of the yoke. Forward swingingof the yoke 103 under the influence of pressure from the frame sides onthe bends 107 is limited by engagement of the yoke-portions 10S with therear member 90 of the footrest; and as a result, the footrest is heldirmly in its elevated position.

Each footrest wire 99 is desirably initially formed with the straightportions on opposite sides of the oiset 104' out of alignment with eachother, as indicated by dotted lines in FIG. lO, to form an obtuse anglewithin which the otfset 104' lies. When the footrest is assembled, themisaligned wire portions are forced into alignment causing the offsets104' to bear resiliently against the intermediate leg of the front yoke102 and thereby creating substantial friction which opposes changes inthe relative angular disposition of the footrest and the front yoke.When the footrest is moved from its upper position toward its lowerposition, such friction causes the imposition on the sides of the yearyoke 103l of forces which tend to shorten the effective length of thosesides. Since such sides are not straight, they can yield resiliently toshorten their effective length. So long as the plane of the rear yoke103 makes a substantial angle with the plane of the footrest, theside-shortening effect of friction at the offsets 104 is of little ifany signicance; but as the footrest nears 'its lower position and theplane of the rear yoke approaches parallelism with the footrest, theforce which the rear yoke must exert on the footrest to overcome suchfriction increases to la point such that the yoke-sides are incapable ofsustaining it. In lowering of the footrest beyond this point, frictionholds the footrest and front yoke in fixed angular relation to eachother and the footrest and front yoke 102 act as a single rigid elementforcing resilient shortening of the sides of the rear yoke. The rear endof the footrest is made narrow enough, by offsetting the rear portionsof the side members 96 inwardly, to permit it to pass downwardly betweenthe sides 31 of the base frame 25, thus permitting the intermediate legof the rear yoke to pass through the common plane of the out-bent endsof both yokes. After such passage of the intermediate leg of the rearyoke through said cornmon plane, the force exerted on the footrest bythe resiliently stressed sides of the yoke tends to hold the frontportions of the side members 96 of the footrest in iirm contact with thelbase-frame sides 31 which they overlie thus inhibiting rattling. The rmfrictional grip of the offsets 104 on the intermediate leg of the frontyoke 102 also inhibits rattling of the footrest when in its upperposition.

The resilience of the sides of the rear yoke 103 can, if desired, beutilized in a somewhat different way to hold the sides 96 of thefootrest in firm, non-rattling contact with the base frame when thefootrest is in lowered position. Thus, if the effective length of thesides of the front yoke 102 'is made slightly greater than the effec.-tive length of the rear-yoke sides, or if the distance between theoffsets 104 and 104 is made slightly greater than that between the holeson the frame-sides 31 which receive the out-bent ends of the two yokes,the intermediate portion of the rear yoke 103 will, as the footrest islowered, reach the plane of the frame-sides while the intermediateportion of the front yoke 102 -is above that plane. If the footrest isforced further downwardly until the footrest sides 96 engage the baseframe, the sides of the rear yoke 103 will be elastically extended andthe force they exert on the footrest will urge it downwardly and forceits sides 96 into firm contact with the sides 31 of the base frame.

The space between the seat and the rear ends of the base and basketframes may be adapted for use as a basket to carry packages and otherarticles. To this end the base frame 25 may be provided between the rearaxle 34 and the stop rod 55 with cross rods 110 received in holes in thesides 31 of the base frame to provide, in effect, a platform forsupporting such packages or other articles. If desired, one of suchcross rods may project outwardly beyond one of the sides 31 and be bent,as indicated at 111 in FIG. 2, to provide a brake which can be movedinto and out of braking engagement with the adjacent rear wheel byrocking the rod. Sides for the basket are formed by members 112- and 113carried respectively by the basket and base frames. The side member 112is shown as formed from a metal rod which extends around the rear end ofthe stroller -at a distance somewhat below the basket frame and whichhas its end portions oifset upwardly and bent to extend through holes inthe lower faces of the basket-frame sides 41 `as shown in FIG. 9. Therear stretch of the member 112 is provided with two upwardly extending,U-shaped osets 114y the tips 115 of which are bent rearwardly forreception in slots in the front face of the rear leg 40` of the basketframe. The member 112 is formed, as indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 9,so that with its ends in the openings of the basket fname it will haveto be resiliently distorted to permit reception of the tips 115 in theslots of the basket frame. The member 113 is generally similar to themember 112', but it is inverted and has its ends and the tips of itsoffsets 114 received in openings in the base frame. After the tips ofthe oifsets 114 of each side member have been inserted into the openingswhich receive them, the sides lof such openings may be distorted toprevent the offset-tips from being withdrawn.

If desired, the stroller may embody a canopy. The canopy illustratedincludes a U-shaped frame 12.9y formed of a metal rod the ends 121 ofwhich are bent inwardly for reception in holes in the sides of thehandle 57. A short distance from the in-bent ends 121 the sides of theframe 120 are bent to provide inwardly projecting offsets 122 adapted torest on the handle `and support the frame in a generally horizontalposition Iabove the seat. As shown, a frame extension 123 of U-shape ispivoted to the inner ends of the oifsets 122. A canopy cover 124 offabric or like sheet material has pockets 125 and 126 at its front andrear ends to receive, respectively, the closed ends of the frame 120`and extension 123i. Preferably, the distance between the offsets 122 ofthe in-bent ends 121 of the canopy frame is greater than the distancebetween the upper end of the handle S7 and the holes which receive thosein-bent ends, so. that the canpoy can be swung from the horizontalposition illustrated in FIG. l upwardly and rearwardly over the upperend of the handle 57 into the dotted-line position shown in FIG. l. Ifuse of the canopy is not desired, it can easily be removed by spreadingthe rear end of the frame 120 to disengage the in-bent ends from theholes in the handle 57. The pivotal mounting of the extension frame 123-on the canopy frame 120 permits the rear end of the canopy to beadjusted as desired, and also permits the rear end of the canopy to befolded over the front portion thereof for ease in packing theknocked-down stroller.

When the stroller is knocked down for shipment, the handle 57V iswithdrawn from the handle frame 27, the yoke 63 is withdrawn from thearms 62, such arms are swung into parallel relationship with the handleframe, and the handle frame 27 is swung forwardly into general parallelrelationship with the base frame 2S, as shown in FIG. 9. In thiscondition, the entire stroller, including ythe `dismounted canopy, canform a compact package. To erect the stroller, it is only necessary tolift the front end of the handle frame 27 until its lower end engagesthe stop-rod 65. Lowering of the arms 62 into the horizontal position,will move the lock members 65 into the position shown in FIG. 2, whereit engages the front side of the stop rod 55 and locks the handle framein its erected condition. In the swinging of the handle frame from itscollapsed to its erected position, the basket frame 26 swings upwardlyfrom the full-line to the dotted-line position shown in FIG. 9. With thehandle frame erected,

assembly of the stroller can be completed by inserting the yoke 63 intothe 'arms' 62, inserting `the sides 53 of the handle 57 into the sides46 of the handle frame, and applying the canopy.

The erected stroller can be readily collapsed for carrying by liftingthe arms 62 and yoke 63` to disengage the lock member 65 from the stoprod 55, thus permitting the handle and handle frame to swing forwardlyinto a generally horizontal position and the basket frame to drop intoits lower position illustrated in full lines in FIG. 9. If the canopy is-in place, it can be swung into the dotted- ]ine position shown in FIG.1 before the handle and handle frame are lowered; and yafter thestroller has been collapsed, the canopy will overlie the remainder ofthe structure.

If desired, the stroller can readily be adapted for use as a walker byremoving the footrest and adjusting the yoke 63 to the dotted-lineposition shown in FIG. 3. Removal of the footrest is easily effected byspringing the sides of the yokes 192 and 103 inwardly to permit theremoval of their out-bent ends from the holes in sides 31 of the baseframe 25. A tray 128 may be removably supported in the front end of theyoke 63 I claim as my invention:

l. In a stroller, a generally horizontal rigid base frame, wheelsmounted on said oase frame, a handle frame, a seat carried by saidhandle frame, a member pivoted to said base frame and to said handleframe on an axis above the lower end thereof, links interconnecting saidbase frame and handle frame for relative swinging movement and pivotedto the latter on a second axis below said rst axis, said handle framebeing swingable forwardly from an upright position in which said linksextend forwardly and upwardly from said base frame into a collapsedposition in which it lies generally parallel to said base frame and saidlinks extend rearwardly from their point-s of connection to said baseframe, and releasable means for holding said handle frame in uprightposition, said releasable means comprising an abutment on the base frameengageable with the lower end of the handle frame when the latter is inupright position and a movable latch member carried by said handle frameand engageable with said abutment.

2. A stroller as set forth in claim l with the addition of a pair ofarms pivotally mounted on said handle frame, said seat being supportedfrom said arms, said arms being swingable upwardly from an operativeposition in which they extend forwardly from the handle to a collapsedposition in which they lie generally parallel to the handle frame, andan operative connection between said arms and said latch member.

3. In a stroller, a generally horizontal rigid base frame, wheelsmounted on said base frame, a handle frame, a seat carried by saidhandle frame, a member pivoted to said base frame and to` said handleframe on an axis above the lower end thereof, links interconnecting saidbase frame and handle frame for relative swinging movement :and pivotedto the latter on a second axis below said iirst axis, said handle framebeing swingable forwardly from an upright position in which said linksextend forwardly and upwardly from said base frame into a collapsedposition in which it lies generally parallel to said `base frame andsaid links extend rearwardly from their points of connection to saidbase frame, and releasable means acting between said handle frame andsaid base frame for holding said handle frame in upright position.

4. A stroller as set forth in claim 3 with the addition of a pair ofarms `pivotally mounted on said handle frame, a seat supported by saidarms, said arms being swingable upwardly from an operative position inwhich they extend forwardly from the handle frame into a collapsedposition in which they lie generally parallel to the handle frame, `andan operative connection between said arms and said releasable means.

5. A stroller as set forth in claim 1 with the addition that said handleframe is formed of metal tubing bent into a. U-shape to provide twoparallel legs and a horizontal intermediate leg located at the bottom ofthe handle frame when the handle frame is in upright position, saidabutment comprising a rod extending transversely across the base frame,the tubing of said intermediate leg being collapsed and formed into aforwardly concave arcuate cross-section in which said rod is receivable.

6. In a stroller, a generally horizontal base frame, wheels mounted onsaid base frame, a handle frame, means movably connecting said baseframe and handle frame and so constructed and arranged as to permit thehandle frame to swing into an upright position from a collapsed positiongenerally parallel to the base frame, releasable means for holding thehandle frame in upright position, a seat carried by the handle frame 4apair of arms supported from said handle frame for movement from anoperative position in which they extend forwardly from the handle frameabove said seat to serve as arm rests for an occupant of the seat and acollapsed position in which they lie generally parallel to the handleframe, and an operative connection between said arms and said releasablemeans for releasing said releasable means when said arms are moved fromoperative to collapsed position.

7. A stroller as set forth in claim 6 with the addition of a seatsupported from said arms, said seat comprising a rigid bottom memberdisposed below said arms and connected thereto by sides o-f flexiblematerial, a back including a rigid member, said two rigid members beingpivotally connected on a horizontal axis adjacent the rear of the seatto permit the back to swing forwardly and rearwardly relative to theseat, and means connecting one of said rigid members to said handleframe for limited sliding movement generally in the plane of the handleframe.

8. In a stroller, a generally horizontal base frame having means at itsrear end providing -a platform for supporting objects, wheels mounted onsaid base frame, a handle frame, a seat carried by said handle frame, amember pivoted to said base frame and to said handle frame on an axisabove the lower end thereof, links interconnecting said base frame andhandle fra-me for relative swinging movement and pivoted to the latteron a second axis below said first axis, said handle frame beingswingable forwardly from an upright position in which said links extendforwardly and upwardly from said base frame into a collapsed position inwhich it lies generally parallel to said base frame 'and said linksextend rearwardly from their points of connection to said base frame,and releasable means for holding said handle frame in upright position,said member having a rear portion and two generally parallel sideportions, said side portions being pivoted to said base frame at theirfront ends and to said handle frame at points intermediate theirlengths, whereby when the handle frame is in upright position saidmember will extend rearwardly beyond the handle frame to serve as aretaining means for objects on said platform.

9. In a stroller, a. generally horizontal base frame having a rearportion and two generally parallel sides, a basket frame of generalU-shape having a rear portion and generally parallel sides, the frontends of said basketframe sides being pivoted to the sides of the baseframe, a handle frame pivotally connected to said basket-frame sidesintermediate the length thereof, means interconnecting said handle andbase frames and permitting the handle frame to swing from a collapsedposition generally parallel to the base frame into an upright position,said means, said basket frame, and -said handle frame being soconstructed and arranged that as the handle frame swings from collapsedposition to upright position the basket frame will swing upwardly aboutits axis of pivotal connection to the base frame, a basket-sideextending across the rear portion and forwardly along the sides of thebasket frame and projecting downwardly therefrom, and a secondbasket-side extending across the rear of the base frame forwardly alongthe sides thereof and projecting downwardly therefrom, one of saidbasket-sides being adapted 4to nest within the other when the basketframe is in collapsed position.

l0. A stroller as set forth in claim 8 with the addition of a seat backpivotally connected adjacent its lower end to said h-andle frame, ysaidseat back being swingable rearwardly from an upright position into agenerally horizontal position in which it rests on the rear Portion ofsaid member, and releasable means for holding said seat backalternatively in upright position or in an intermediate rearwardly andupwardly inclined position.

ll. A stroller as set forth in claim 8 with the addition of a seat backpivotally connected adjacent its lower end to said handle frame, saidseat back being swingable rearwardly from an upright position into agenerally horizontal position in which it rests on the rear portion ofsaid member, and releasable means for holding said seat back in uprightposition.

l2. In a stroller, a base frame, a handle frame, means for supportingsaid handle frame in an upright position from said base frame, a seatcarried by said handle frame, a seat-back pivotally connected yadjacentits lower end to the handle frame, upper and lower vertically spacedcross members extending across said handle frame, and releasable meansfor supporting said seat-back alternatively in an upright position or ina rearwardly inclined position, said means comprising a U-shaped rodhaving an intermediate portion extending across and in rear of the seatback intermediate the height thereof, and sides extending downwardly infront of said upper cross member and provided at their lower ends witheyes receiving the lower cross member, said eyes -being elongated topermit vertical movement of said rod between upper and lower position,the sides of said rod having forwardly offset portions above said eyes,said offset portions when the rod is in its lower position lying belowsaid upper cross member whereby engagement of the upper cross memberwith the rod-sides above the offsets will prevent rearward swinging ofthe seat back from upright position,

the rod being movable vertically .to bring the offsets opposite theupper cross member and permit the rod -to swing rearwardly.

13. In a stroller, a generally horizontal base frame, wheels mounted onsaid base frame, a handle frame, means movably connecting said baseframe and handle frame `and so constructed and arranged as to permit thehandle to swing into an upright position from a collapsed positiongenerally parallel to the base frame, releasable means for holding thehandle frame in upright position, a pair of arms supported from saidhandle frame for movement from an operative position in which theyextend forwardly from the handle frame and a collapsed position in whichthey lie generally parallel to the handle frame, a seat supported fro-msaid arms, said seat comprising -a rigid bottom member disposed belowsaid arms and connected thereto by sides of flexible material, a backincluding a rigid member, said two rigid members being pivotallyconnected on a horizontal axis adjacent the rear of the seat to permitthe back to swing forwardly and rearwardly relative to the seat, andmeans connecting one of said rigid members to said handle frame forlimited sliding movement generally in the plane of the handle frame.

14. A stroller as set forth in claim 13 with the addition that said lastnamed means connects the rigid member of the back with the handle frameand permits the back to swing forwardly and rearwardly relative to thehandleframe.

(References on following page) References Cited in the le of this patentUNITED STATES PATENTS Timmerhoi Dec. 25, Smith Aug. 20, Siebert Sept.l5, Shone Aug. 14, Kuuiholm Nov. 13, Sheldrick Feb. 26,

Smith July 9,

12 Shone Feb, 11, 1958 Peterson Mar. 31, 1959 Quisenberry May 12, 1959FOREIGN PATENTS Denmark Jan. 22, 1951 France Mar. 9, 1959 Great BritainAug. 23, 1950 Great Britain Mar. 13, 1957

